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The Admirals: Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy, and King--The Five-Star Admirals Who Won the War at Sea Kindle Edition

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Walter R. Borneman (Author)
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Walter R. Borneman (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 431 customer reviews
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Length: 522 pages Word Wise: Enabled Audible Narration:
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Product Details

  • File Size: 6172 KB
  • Print Length: 522 pages
  • Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1st edition (May 1, 2012)
  • Publication Date: May 1, 2012
  • Sold by: Hachette Book Group
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B007ME5GYC
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
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  • Word Wise: Enabled
  • Lending: Not Enabled
  • Enhanced Typesetting: Not Enabled
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,210 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsGood Insights Into the US Navy Leaders of World War II
By Paul on May 5, 2012
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
My first reaction to this book was not to read it because I felt it would be too disjointed to tell the life stories of four men who became five star admirals, but having recently completed Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941-1942 my interest was up for it, and the result was not disappointing.

When we think of the navy's role in the Pacific, we immediately think of Nimitz and Halsey, and they are covered in this work, but we are also enlightened to the roles of Ernest J. King and William D. Leahy, whose exposure to the eye of the public was not as prominent as the first two, but were indeed, on a higher level and worthy of even more accolades for their accomplishments.

All four were born in the 19th century, and were graduates of Annapolis around the turn of the twentieth century. They were coming into the navy at the time of America's emergence as a world power and the navy itself being transformed as a result of the efforts of Theodore Roosevelt and the realization of global spheres of influence that now included the Pacific and the recognition of the emergence of Japan.

It is somewhat ironic that the photograph on the dust jacket of the book is one of battleships in formation. Many would not likely believe that the battleship would quickly become almost obsolete with the development of the carrier. These men of this volume were born into the age of the battleship. Indeed, it was the days of the early 20th century that saw an arms race between Britain and Germany in the technology developments of battleships (dreadnoughts)that embraced both weaponry and sheer size, once described as castles of steel.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsAdmirable
By Christian Schlect VINE VOICE on April 22, 2012
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
I wanted to read a book about the Navy's top leadership in World War II, and this history by Walter R. Borneman proved ideal. It should be sold out at the bookstore of the U.S. Naval Academy.

Actually this book covers more than World War II, and gives one a description of the U.S. Navy's ups and downs from the turn of the 19th century through to the defeat of Japan in 1945. While 1940s activity in the Atlantic is not ignored, this is a book primarily about the Pacific and the top command's strategy for winning the war in that theatre. It also traces the rise of air and submarine power, over that of the big battleships. All this through the lives and careers of the four navy men who reached five-star rank by war's end.

Mr. Borenman boosts Admiral Leahy; questions Admiral Halsey; admires Admiral Spruance (who didn't get the coveted fifth star); and gives a conventional negative picture (from a Navy standpoint) of General Douglas MacArthur. Like many good books, this one will drive you to read more about the period and personalities.

(As a person who does not know a boat from a ship, I will leave it to expert reviewers on all things naval to say if all the technical knowledge put forth by Mr. Borneman is accurate. It seems so to me.)
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5.0 out of 5 starsA highly readable and insightful biography/military history
By troutguy on May 16, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Walter Borneman has produced a thoroughly engaging blend of naval history and biography in this account of the lives of America's four five-star admirals. Merging the biographies of Admirals Halsey, Nimitz, King and Leahy, Borneman paints a colorful panorama of United States naval history from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. The chapters detailing the emergence of submarine and airpower in the Navy and how the lives of these men intertwined with these technologies are particularly intriguing.

Although Borneman gives a fine overview of the military conflicts during the lives of these men, in the end, the book revolves around the admirals themselves. With a refined ability to develop character, Borneman helps us know the hard-drinking Ernest King, the statesman-like William Leahy, the grandfatherly Chester Nimitz, and the full-steam-ahead William Halsey in depth. Their unique personalities shaped their careers, and to some degree, the world-changing events of the Second World War. Great "supporting character" roles in the persons of Franklin Roosevelt and Douglas MacArthur add additional color and depth to the story. The book should appeal both to those with little military history background as well as those well-versed in WWII history, especially the Pacific Theatre. This work is a fine tribute to these men, who, despite their personality differences, all understood and exemplified the meaning of duty, service and honor.
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3.0 out of 5 starsWorth reading but be careful
By Henry F. Hewitt on July 12, 2012
Format: Hardcover
I'm always a bit leery of a secondary source history that makes a claim that is very hard to support. In the case of this book it's author Walter Borneman's suggestion that Generals Eisenhower and MacArthur developed a rapport with each other as the Second World War proceeded. Most of the available evidence suggests that this was not the case. The victor at Inchon was treated with near god like veneration by our leaders at the end of his life but these two leaders were Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.

Since this book is mainly concerned with the 5 Americans who held the 5 star Admiral's rank as of 1945, however, I'm not sure how material the above criticism is. Readers interested in obtaining an overview of strategic naval planning or the personalities of Nimitz, Halsey, King, or Leahy should find this study both useful and entertaining. It's not intended to be a detailed analysis of battles such as Midway or Santa Cruz, but there are plenty of excellent histories of those collisions still in print

Mr. Borneman is no cheerleader for the 4 men he profiled and he isn't afraid to consider various controversies related to the Pacific War such as Bull Halsey's decisions during and immediately after the Battle of Leyte Gulf or the regrettable failure of Raymond Spruance to receive the recognition he deserved.

I'd recomend this book to either serious or casual students of the period
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsWell written survey of four key men in WWII

Very readable and well researched look at the four "Five Star" Admirals in American history. Each Admiral has his early life and career surveyed but the main focus is on their... Read more

Published 3 days ago by C. Madlena
4.0 out of 5 starswell researched history of the naval leaders of WWII whose importance...

This is a well written, well researched history of the naval leaders of WWII whose importance is too great for the educated person not to know. Read more

Published 11 days ago by Thomas Callan
4.0 out of 5 starsBackground

Required reading for General background for the decisions made and reasoning why during the Second World War. Read more

Published 11 days ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsEnjoyed it. Good insight into the personalities

Enjoyed it. Good insight into the personalities.

Published 12 days ago by Tenplay
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

I learned quite a bit, found this book very interesting.

Published 13 days ago by randy r
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat Book. Makes reading about history enjoyable

Great Book. Makes reading about history enjoyable.

Published 24 days ago by Rudy
4.0 out of 5 starsGreat profiles of some great men

Well done! Very readable. Great profiles of some great men. Must read for WWII interests. Great perspective on the shaping of the modern Navy.

Published 25 days ago by Richard T.
5.0 out of 5 starsVery good. Great review of the WW2 leaders

Very good. Great review of the WW2 leaders

Published 26 days ago by brad Davis
5.0 out of 5 starsMust read for anyone wanting to grasp the war in the Pacific.

An excellent synopsis of the most influential admirals of WWII. Gets right to the events critical to their personalities and their interaction with each other to bring the war to... Read more

Published 1 month ago by DON J SONKE
5.0 out of 5 starsA must read

I heard my father-in-law tell my husband how great the book was, so I bought it for him for Valentine's Day. He hasn't put it down since. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Mia Mayo

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